I think the detrimental part was avoiding any polarising subject that could alienate their core electorate. They wanted to retain it so much that they forgot about the general population. And then came Trump promising changes in areas general public had problems with. He was mostly lying, but he was lying about the right topics.
So it came down to the choice: Maybe a lying republican jackass, or total democrat apathy.
People wanted change. Trump promised change, the democrats promised more of the same.
Maybe democrats should promise change?
I think the detrimental part was avoiding any polarising subject that could alienate their core electorate. They wanted to retain it so much that they forgot about the general population. And then came Trump promising changes in areas general public had problems with. He was mostly lying, but he was lying about the right topics.
So it came down to the choice: Maybe a lying republican jackass, or total democrat apathy.